FRISCO, Texas (June 25, 2013) - The 2013 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships presented by the National Guard, to be played June 28 – July 2, will provide an estimated economic impact of more than $5 million to the Kingston, R.I., area.

Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more than 5,000 players, coaches, teams and tournament officials, who also bring along their families to the six-day tournament. Visitors to the Kingston, R.I., area will book an estimated 12,700 room nights at area hotels plus another 1,200 dorm bed nights at the University of Rhode Island.

The top 256 Boys and Girls US Youth Soccer teams from Region I, including at least 14 teams from the host Soccer Rhode Island, will compete at the University of Rhode Island.

"We are proud to hold the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships in Kingston, R.I., and host the thousands of visitors that will be involved not only with our event this year but in 2014 as well," said Steve Votolato, Soccer Rhode Island president and co-host tournament chair of the local organizing committee. "Not only will the players benefit from the great competition at this prestigious event, but the surrounding area looks to benefit from an economic impact of over $5 million."

The US Youth Soccer Region I Championships will feature top teams in the Under-12 through Under-19 age groups and begin on June 27, with opening ceremonies at Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. Round robin games will take place Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30, with semifinal matches Monday, July 1. The US Youth Soccer Region I Champions will be crowned following final games Tuesday, July 2.

US Youth Soccer State Champions and select wildcards in the U-12 through U-19 Boys and Girls age groups from 15 State Associations, including from host Soccer Rhode Island, will participate in the event. The other state associations represented include Connecticut, Delaware, Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York West, Pennsylvania West, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Regional winners of the U-13 through U-19 Boys and Girls brackets will earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships presented by the National Guard July 23-28 in Overland Park, Kan.

The dates and locations for the 2013 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships are:

US Youth Soccer National Championships | Overland Park, Kan.Overland Park Soccer ComplexPlayer Luncheon: July 22Round Robin: July 23-26Finals: July 27-28
Total Number of Teams: 88
Age Group: U13 – 19

For more information on the US Youth Soccer National Championships, visit http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org​, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more. Get all US Youth Soccer National Championship Series updates are on Twitter @usysncs.